ARALIA (a-RA-lee-a)ARALIACEAE. Deciduous herbs, shrubs and trees, grown for ornament, or in the
wild garden for medicine and wildlife food. Their bold foliage is attractive.
Seeds often have double dormancy, and need scarification and cold treatment, or
warm then cold treatment. Best sown in early fall to produce seedlings over the
next two years.NEW—Aralia spinosa. (250) ARAL-32. Packet: $2.50
1/2 Ounce: $8.00
'DEVIL'S WALKING STICK', 'HERCULES CLUB'. Varies from a shrub to tree to 35
feet, with large compound 2 - 6 foot long 1eaves clustered at the top, giving a
tree-fern like appearance. Enormous panicles of whitish flowers up to 6 feet
long, followed by elderberry-like berries. E. U.S. Hardy to Pennsylvania (Zone
5). The bark was an important medicine among the Indians. The young leaves have
been used as a potherb. Germinates in 5 - 8 weeks warm without pretreatment.

ARBUTUS (AR-bu-tus)ERICACEAE. Striking warm region evergreen trees with smooth red bark,
clustered urn-shaped flowers, and red or orange berries. Valuable for
landscaping, firewood, wildlife food, and edible berries. Interesting disjunct
distribution—western Europe and western North America.—Arbutus Unedo. (100) ARBU-19. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $7.50 (Clean seed)
Click for photos » 'STRAWBERRY TREE'. White or pinkish 1/4" flowers in drooping 2"
clusters, followed by edible scarlet 3/4" fruits. Shrub or tree to 30 feet,
with glossy green 4" leaves. S. Europe to Ireland. Hardy to Georgia and on
the Pacific Coast. Zone 7. Makes a striking display as a specimen shrub. Fruits have a
banana-like consistency, and are sweet and good eaten raw or as preserves,
syrup, or fermented and distilled. Produces a rare, highly-esteemed honey in
Sardinia. Prechill seed 4 - 8 weeks to germinate in 4 weeks.
ARCTIUM (ARK-tee-um)COMPOSITAE. 'BURDOCK'. Large coarse biennials and perennials with large
leaves and burr-like heads of purple to white flowers. Some are cultivated for
edible roots or medicinal purposes. Others are weeds of undisturbed land; easily
destroyed by cultivation.—Arctium Lappa. (50) ARCI-3. Packet: $2.50 OTC
ORGANIC SEED
Ounce: $7.50
'GOBO', 'GREAT BURDOCK'. Giant hardy perennial to 10 feet, with purple-red 1
3/4" thistle-like flowers and large 20" leaves, white-woolly beneath.
Eurasia. Zone 3. Often regarded as a 'weed' in the US, this is a popular vegetable in
Japan. The young first-year roots are eaten, the young peeled shoots are eaten
as an asparagus. Sow in deep rich soil in spring for a fall harvest, or in fall
for spring crop. The seeds are an important medicine in Japan and China, and
have antibiotic properties. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
ARCTOSTAPHYLOS (ark-to-STAF-ee-los)ERICACEAE. Handsome evergreen shrubs and small trees, most from California.
Tiny, clustered, urn-shaped flowers followed by attractive red berries. Smooth
red to purple bark on contorted branches make them striking landscape plants for
mild climates. Seed may be slow to germinate.
Good bee plants and wildlife food and shelter. A complex and rapidly
evolving genus in the process of speciation, reaching its greatest diversity in
California. The name means 'bear-grape' as bears are fond of the berries,
which were also an important item of food among Californian Indians. They are
dry, mealy and very nutritious. Their ripening was celebrated by a special dance
and 'big eat' held by various tribes. They were made into mush, cider, brandy,
and vinegar by the settlers. The wood is prized for woodwork, and is a good hot
fuel. The leaves of various species are valued in medicine against urinary
infections, due to the action of the antiseptic glucoside Arbutin.—Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi. (200) ARCO-48. Packet: $2.50
1/2 Ounce: $13.00'BEAR-BERRY', 'KINNIKINICK'. Small white 1/4" pink-tinged flowers in
March to May, followed by small scarlet fruits. Mat-forming shrub to 2" or
so, with inch-long shiny green leaves. Northern North Hemisphere. To Zone 2.
Fruits eaten throughout its range. The leaves are smoked by Indians, and are
medicinal, being one of the best urinary antiseptics. Germinates best with fire
treatment and warm-cold cycles. Hold pots several years for stragglers.
ARGEMONE (ar-je-MOE-nee)PAPAVERACEAE. 'PRICKLY POPPY', 'ARGEMONY'. Showy annuals grown for their
magnificent, poppy-like, yellow, white or purple flowers and for the striking
foliage. Easily grown, standing hot, dry, barren soils and drought. Sow where
they are to stand, or transplant from pots. Seed germinates readily in some
species, others need to be fall sown, and some need GA-3. Seed half-life 4 - 5
years. "Handsome and unusual."—Booth.—Argemone polyanthemos. (200) ARGE-20. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $7.50'WHITE PRICKLY-POPPY'. Large diaphanous white poppy-like 3 - 4" blooms.
Large prickly hardy annual or biennial to 4 feet. Eastern base of the Rockies.
Striking in bloom. Seed viable 4 - 5 years. Germination may be helped by high
temperatures (90°F), prechill, or 250 ppm GA-3.

ARISTOLOCHIA (a-ris-to-LO-kee-a)
ARISTOLOCHIACEAE. Mostly tropical climbers, and some hardy perennials, grown
for their extraordinarily peculiar flowers, and the attractive heart-shaped
foliage. The remarkable curved flowers temporarily trap pollinating insects much
like pitcher plants. Some are specific butterfly host-plants. Some are
medicinal, ranging from fertility control, to snake bite remedies to arrow
poisons. Easy from seed in ordinary soil.—Aristolochia debilis. (100) ARST-16. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $7.50
'CHINESE PIPE VINE', 'MA DOU LING'. Small curved, purple-throated fragrant
flowers in summer, followed by ornamental pods. Perennial vine to 15 feet, with
heart- to arrow-shaped leaves. Young leaves purplish. China and Japan. Zone 6 or
7. Attracts butterflies. Germinates over a long period starting in a month, and
3 months prechill may help.—Aristolochia fimbriata. (10) ARST-7. Packet: $2.50
Click for photo » Remarkable peculiar flowers with curved tube and round, inch-wide,
purple-brown end veined yellow, with a fringe of thread-like lobes, in fall. Not
cool enough for you? They smell of brandy... Small creeping vine to 10 feet,
with round 3" leaves with silvery veins. Brazil and Argentina. Zone 8.
Germinates in 3 weeks, with some stragglers to 6 months.
"The law has no claim to human respect. It has no civilizing mission; its
only purpose is to protect exploitation."—Peter Kropotkin.

ARMATOCEREUS (ar-ma-to-SEER-ee-us)CACTACEAE. Columnar South American cacti. Sometimes included in Lemaireocereus.
Easily grown.—Armatocereus arboreus (25) ARMA-4. Packet: $2.50Tall columnar cactus with dense slender spines. Peru. Zone 9. Use GA-3 to
germinate in 2 - 4 weeks. Nice!
Info and photos link: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/128083/
ARNICA (AR-ni-ka)COMPOSITAE. Hardy perennial yellow daisies, valued in the wild and rock
garden. Quick growing in acid soil and easy from seed.—Arnica Chamissonis. (100) ARNI-5. Packet: $2.50 'MEADOW ARNICA'. Bright yellow 2" daisies in summer. Hardy perennial to
2 - 3 feet, with 6" leaves. W. N. America. Zone 2. Highly valued as
medicine, considered equivalent to Arnica montana. Easily grown in moist
soil. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.—Arnica montana. (25) ARNI-11. Packet: $3.00
Gram $12.00, 5 grams: $28.00'MOUNTAIN TOBACCO'. Large golden 3" daisies on a hardy perennial to
24", with a rosette of 8" leaves. Europe and W. Asia. Blooms May to
August. Best in well-drained lime-free soil and full sun. Zone 5. A tincture of
the flowers and roots is a famous remedy for sprains and bruises. Germinates in
2 - 7 weeks.
ARTEMISIA (ar-te-MEE-see-a)COMPOSITAE. 'WORMWOOD', 'SAGEBRUSH'. A large genus of aromatic and bitter
plants, many of which are valuable culinary and medicinal herbs. Named for the
Greek goddess Artemis. Easily grown in poor dry soil—many thrive in
arid regions. Grown as nice specimen plants for their small yellow or white disk
flowers and often attractive greyish foliage. Sow on the surface, to germinate
in 1 - 6 weeks. Seed viable 3 - 9 years.—Artemisia Absinthium. (1000) ARTE-2. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $14.00, 50 grams: $50.00
Click for photo » 'WORMWOOD', 'ABSINTHE'. Shrubby hardy perennial to 2 - 5 feet, with greyish,
silky, divided foliage and leafy spikes of little nodding flowers in July to
October. Europe. Zone 3. Sun or part shade. A valuable bitter medicinal herb grown since
ancient times for its virtues. One of the oldest known medicinal plants, it was
used by the ancient Egyptians. The Romans burned it as incense, drank it to
promote longevity, and flavored their wine with it. Widely grown for flavoring
poultry dishes, beer and vermouth, and for making cordials and bitters,
including the infamous, debilitating liqueur 'absinthe'. The herb was used as a
vermifuge, tonic, digestive stimulant and febrifuge. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.—Artemisia frigida. (1000) ARTE-19. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50'FRINGED SAGEBRUSH', 'ESTAFIATA'. Aromatic silvery mat-forming hardy
perennial shrublet to 4 - 20" tall, with finely divided 1/2" leaves
and spikes of tiny, nodding 1/8" yellow flowers in July to September. Dry
plains and foothills, Arizona to Wisconsin and west to Siberia. Zone 4. The seeds were
eaten by Great Basin Indians, and the leaves were used by the Hopi to flavor
sweet corn, and it was used medicinally. Give 4 - 8 weeks cold to germinate in 1
- 2 weeks.—Artemisia Stelleriana 'Mori' Strain'. (25) ARTE-44. Packet: $2.50'BEACH WORMWOOD', 'OLD WOMAN'. Prostrate shrub to 8", with woolly, silvery
lobed leaves and yellow flowers. NE Asia and N America. Zone 3. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.—Artemisia tridentata var. vaseyana. (500) ARTE-47V. Packet: $2.50
(NOTE: We were unable to obtain var. wyomingensis this year, so are substituting
var. vaseyana)
'BIG SAGEBRUSH', 'GREAT BASIN SAGEBRUSH', 'WI:'KWAPI' (Hopi name). Rounded
aromatic evergreen silvery-grey shrub to 6 - 15 feet, with sprays of small
flowers in July to November. W. U.S. Zone 5. The powerfully aromatic leaves are an
important Indian medicine and burned as incense. Easy and tough, for dry
difficult areas. Sow on the surface to germinate in 1 - 7 weeks.—Artemisia vulgaris. (1000) ARTE-50. Packet: $2.00
10 grams: $7.50'MUGWORT'. Very hardy perennial to 2 - 3 feet, with dark green divided
leaves and tall, pyramidal clusters of small yellowish flowers. Europe. Zone 3. The
bitter, aromatic leaves were used extensively for flavoring beer before the
introduction of hops, hence the name. The dried leaves were much used as a
pleasant tea, and as a tonic nervine and emmenagogue. Valued since ancient
times, it was praised by Dioscorides. As a culinary herb, it goes well with
poultry, particularly goose. Used in perfumes, soaps and incense. Fresh sprigs
put in beer. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks at warm temperatures, and KNO3 helps.

ARUM (AR-um)ARACEAE. Jack-in-the-pulpit-like tuberous perennials with arrowhead-shaped
leaves and interesting spathes. Good pot plants or outdoors in mild climates.
Best in part shade and rich soil, with plenty of water while growing.
Germination of dry seed may be prolonged and irregular, hold pots outdoors several years.
I have had best results with seed cleaned out of the berries, and stored moist
(never dried). These germinate readily the first season.—Arum cyrenaicum Arch 195.150. (20) ARUM-8. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $10.00, 50 grams: $30.00
Click for photo »
Fresh seed stored moist and refrigerated for rapid germination.
Large rosy purplish spathes and purple spadices. Dark green arrowhead leaves delicately spotted.
Woodland species from Libya. Rarely seen.NEW—Arum pictum. (25) ARUM-18. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $15.00, 50 grams: $50.00
Click for photo » Fresh seed stored moist and refrigerated for rapid germination.'BLACK CALLA'. Deep velvety reddish purple cowl-like 7" spathes in fall. Deep shiny green
10" arrowhead leaves that are purple-edged when young, creamy-veined later. Corsica and
Sardinia. Zone 8. The only fall-blooming Arum.
NEW—Arum purpureospathum. (5) ARUM-20. Packet: $3.00
50 seed: $19.00Fresh seed stored moist and refrigerated for rapid germination.
Click for photo »
Nice photoLots of nice photosStriking large deep purple spathes to 12" long, held well above the
leaves, in April and May, followed by orange berries. Dark green foot-long
leaves emerge in fall. Endangered endemic, known only from a few sites in southwestern
Crete, where it is protected. Zone 8. Likes a dry summer for dormancy.

ARUNCUS (a-RUN-kus)
ROSACEAE. 'GOAT'S BEARD'. Tall ornamental hardy perennials grown tor their
large, showy, Astilbe-like clusters of tiny white flowers. Best in moist
shady
places and by pools and streams. Good in the back border. Seeds germinate
readily in 80 - 120 days at cool temperatures. Sow on the surface.NEW—Aruncus aethusifolius. (100) ARUN-1. Packet: $2.50
'DWARF GOAT'S BEARD', White flowers in airy clusters in late spring. Hardy
perennial to 16", with fern-like leaves that turn rich red in fall. Korea.
Zone 3. Moist soil. Prechill 4 - 8 weeks, but many will germinate without cold.
ASCLEPIAS (as-KLEP-ee-as)ASCLEPIADACEAE. 'MILKWEED', 'SILKWEED'. Some of the most striking of our N.
American wildflowers, they are showy summer and fall blooming hardy perennials.
Easily grown and making nice specimens in the border or wild garden. Attractive
foliage and pods. Often grown to attract butterflies. Some are medicinal, used
as spring greens or produce fine fiber. Some species germinate readily in as
little as 8 days, up to 60 - 90 days, others need cold.—Asclepias currassavica. (100) ASCL-3. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $7.50, 1/4 Pound: $20.00'BLOOD FLOWER'. Deep reddish purple flowers with orange hoods, in flat
clusters. Tender perennial to 2 - 3 feet. Tropical America. Zone 8. A host to the
Monarch butterfly. Used medicinally and the stem fiber has been spun, and the
seed floss used in pillows. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks warm.—Asclepias fascicularis. (50) ASCL-4. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $7.50
'NARROW-LEAF MILKWEED'. Light pink to white flowers in clusters in June to
September. Hardy perennial to 3 feet, with narrow leaves. W. U.S. Stands drought. Young
leaves were eaten by Indians. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.—Asclepias incarnata. (50) ASCL-6. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $7.50'SWAMP MILKWEED'. Rose-pink flowers in mid to late summer. Hardy perennial
to 4 feet with fibrous roots. E. U.S. Zone 3. Germinates easily at warm temperatures,
but a week of cold can help. Likes moist soil, but does fine in gardens. The
buds were eaten in deer-broth soup or corn meal mush by the Indians, who also
stored them for winter. Germinates in 2 weeks with stragglers up to 1 year.
Light cold or fall sowing may give more even germination.—Asclepias incarnata 'Ice Ballet'. (10) ASCL-6B. Packet: $2.50White flowers in clusters in July to Sept. Hardy perennial to 3 feet, with
narrow leaves. Zone 3. Said to be vanilla-scented. Prechill seed to germinate in
2 - 10 weeks.—Asclepias speciosa. (50) ASCL-12. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $7.50
'SHOWY MILKWEED'. Pink to purple flowers with long hoods, in clusters, from
May to July. Hardy perennial to 2 1/2 feet. W. N. America. The first tender
shoots have been cooked as a spring vegetable like asparagus. "The best
of all wild greens."—J. M. Bates. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks. The
star-shaped pink flowers are loved by bees.—Asclepias syriaca. (50) ASCL-14. Packet: $2.50
Click for photos » 'COMMON MILKWEED'. Sweet scented lavender to purple flowers in dense umbels
in mid summer. Hardy perennial to 5 feet. NE U.S. Zone 3. The seed and stem fibers have
been used for textiles. The young shoots in spring are an excellent asparagus,
the young green pods are eaten. The Sioux boiled them with their bison meat. The
flowers are also eaten, and provided the Indians with a kind of sugar. The root
was used as an anodyne. Germinates in 3 - 4 weeks warm, and is improved by GA-3.—Asclepias tuberosa. (50) ASCL-15. Packet: $2.50
1/4 Ounce: $7.50, Ounce: $18.00, 1/4 Pound: $50.00'BUTTERFLY WEED', 'PLEURISY - ROOT'. Brilliant orange flowers in large
clusters in mid summer. Hardy perennial to 3 feet from long horizontal roots. E.
U.S. Zone 3. Excellent cut flowers. Highly attractive to many butterflies. Stands
drought and dry soil. The tender shoots were eaten like asparagus, the flowers
provided sugar, and the young pods were eaten. The medicinal root was boiled and
eaten by various tribes. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.—Asclepias tuberosa 'Gay Butterflies'. (25) ASCL-15G. Packet: $3.00
Gram: $12.00
Striking mix of brilliant orange-red, orange, and yellow flowers in dense
clusters. Hardy perennial to 2 1/2 feet, with narrow leaves. An improved strain
of the old favorite butterfly-weed. Choice! Attracts many butterflies.
Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.—Asclepias verticillata. (100) ASCL-76. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50, 5 grams: $30.00'HORSETAIL MILKWEED'. White flowers are flushed green, in clusters from July
to September. Hardy perennial to 2 1/2 feet, with narrow, whorled 3"
leaves, so the plant resembles a horsetail. Maine to New Mexico. Zone 4. Good in dry
places. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.

ASTROPHYTUM (ast-ro-FEE-tum)CACTACEAE. Interesting small Mexican cacti.—Astrophytum ornatum. (25) ASTP-18. Packet: $2.50
Low, round to barrel-shaped cactus with 6 - 8 ribs. Large 2" yellow
flowers. Central México. Zone 7.
Fast growing from seed. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
ATRIPLEX (AT-ri-plex)CHENOPODIACEAE. 'SALTBUSH'. Herbs and shrubs with inconspicuous flowers,
grown for edible greens, the handsome foliage, or as nutritious forage in arid
regions. Salt tolerant, good for reclaiming saline soils. Easily grown in full
sun. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks, cool to warm temperatures. Seed viable 6 years.
All hortensis types are also used in floral ornament both fresh and
dried, and have been cultivated since the 1500s and 1600s.—Atriplex hortensis 'Aurora'. (50) ATRI-11A. Packet: $2.50 OTC ORGANIC SEED
1/4 Ounce: $9.00, Ounce: $20.00Bright red, gold, green, pink, carmine, and deep purple foliage. Stunning in
salads and for cooked greens, as well as cut floral ornament. Sure to be a good
seller at farmer's markets. Organically grown. Germinates in a week or so.—Atriplex hortensis 'Magenta Magic'. (50) ATRI-11M. Packet: $2.50 OTC ORGANIC SEED
1/4 Ounce: $20.00Deep glowing magenta-red leaves, a wonderful new color for baby salad
greens. Organically-grown.—Atriplex hortensis 'Purple Savoyed'. (50) ATRI-11PS. Packet: $2.50 OTC ORGANIC SEED
1/4 Ounce: $17.00, Ounce: $28.00
Heavily crumpled, thick purple leaves. Very ornamental; new salad vegetable
for the restaurant trade. Developed by Shoulder to Shoulder Farm. Organically
grown. Germinates in a week or so.—Atriplex hortensis 'Red'. (100) ATRI-11R. Packet: $2.50
25 grams: $7.50, 100 grams: $20.00'RED ORACH'. Striking ornamental red-purple leaves and stems. Popular
variety to 3 feet, growing all year except when freezing. The succulent leaves
are a colorful addition to salads, or can be boiled like spinach or chard.
Pretty in the flower garden. Gives about 2% green plants.
ATROPA (AT-ro-pa or a-TRO-pa)SOLANACEAE. 'BELLADONNA'. Several hardy perennials grown for ornament and
medicine. Attractive bell-shaped flowers and shiny purple-black berries. Easily
grown in any ordinary soil, doing very well in chalky, limestone soils. Named
for Atropos, one of the three fates which severed the thread of life.
Though rarely fatal to adults, children should be warned against them, and keep
the berries picked. They become stately plants in a few years. Sow in early
spring to germinate in 4 - 6 weeks. Germination is improved by cold treatment,
GA-3, or soaking in vodka overnight (to leach out inhibitors).—Atropa Belladonna. (100) ATRO-1. Packet: $2.50Needs prechill, GA-3, or light and KNO3 to germinate.—Atropa Belladonna GA-3. (100) ATRO-1G. Packet: $3.00
Gram: $7.50, 5 grams: $18.00Pre-Primed with GA-3.'BELLADONNA', 'DWALE'. Purple blue or purple-yellow nodding inch-long bells
in June to September, followed by shiny purple-black 1/2" berries. Graceful
hardy perennial to 3 - 6 feet, with large ovate 3 - 10" leaves and purple
stems. Eurasia. Zone 5. An ancient, legendary and powerful herb with a long
history of medical and magical use. The plant was said to take the form of a
lovely enchantress, but dangerous to look upon. Macbeth poisoned an army of
invading Danes by giving them wine laced with the herb. It was used since
ancient times as a surgical anesthetic, against asthma, cardiac disease, etc.,
and is a major source of pharmaceuticals to this day. It is used to dilate the
pupil for ocular examination, and Italian ladies formerly used this property by
putting the juice in their eyes to increase their beauty, hence the name. Plant
out of reach of children, and warn them against the berries. Germinates in 3 - 6
weeks at warm temperatures.
"The outside is bigger than the inside."—J.L.H.